Rightsnet (http://www.rightsnet.org.uk), the web site which helps welfare benefit advisers to learn from each other, has been praised in a new Cabinet Office report, ‘Excellence and fairness: Achieving world class public services’. The report looked at how user-generated web sites can help socially disadvantaged people.

Community Newswire:
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=4877148.

‘Think Research: Using research evidence to inform service development for vulnerable groups’ is guidance for professionals who have direct responsibility for designing, commissioning, providing or managing services for vulnerable groups.

It has been published by the Social Exclusion Task Force in partnership with Barnardo’s, Research in Practice and the National Foundation for Educational Research. Available via Cabinet Office SETF pages: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/think_research.aspx

Recently highlighted on Nonprofit Online News, but not that new, is ‘Third-Party Nonviolent Intervention - Curriculum and Trainer’s Manual’, from Training For Change.

The first half (the curriculum) can be downloaded from http://www.trainingforchange.org/content/view/111/33/index.html.

The government’s independent volunteering champion Baroness Neuberger is seeking views on volunteering in the criminal justice system.

This follows her first report on volunteering in health and social care, and Plaza Publishing news alert last week quoted her as saying that this second review was proving to be “more complicated”. Responses by 1st September - the Office of the Third Sector news item includes some specific questions.

A coalition of groups is launching on 24th June to lobby more effectively on the issue of child poverty in Northern Ireland.

Groups involved include Barnardos, BBC Children in Need, Children in Northern Ireland, Disability Action, Gingerbread, NCH, NICCY, Parenting Forum, Rural Community Network, Save the Children, Shelter.

Further information from Anne Moore, phone 028 9043 1123, email: a.moore@savethechildren.org.uk

A diverse group of national organisations have come together as the Rural Social Justice Coalition to help improve the lives of the most disadvantaged people in rural areas. It launched at Acre’s Rural Life Conference recently.

See http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/rsjc/overview for more details.

(Source: xpress digest

The Ministry of Justice has published its Third Sector Strategy, setting out how it will engage with the third sector to deliver better public services and improve policy through effective partnerships. This follows consultation on the draft, which closed in March.

The strategy is built around four heads: Enabling voice and campaigning, Strengthening communities, Transforming public services and Encouraging social enterprise.

Download ‘Third Sector Strategy - Improving policies and securing better public services through effective partnerships’, or read the news release, via http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/third-sector-strategy.htm.

‘How to set up a Refugee Community Organisation’ has been published by Federation for Community Development Learning as a resource for new and emerging groups.

Limited copies available free for relevant groups - see http://www.fcdl.org.uk/projects/Improving%20Reach/documents/RCO.htm.

The RNIB Scientific Research Unit’s web site Tiresias (http://www.tiresias.org) provides guidelines on accessibility issues for all types of disabilities, for designers of information and communication technology systems.

The government is looking to make fundamental changes to consumer law, to make it simpler and more cost effective for consumers but also reduce burdens for business.

A ‘Call for Evidence’ runs to 31st July. Download and read the key questions at http://www.berr.gov.uk/bre/reviewing-regulation/protecting-consumers/page44093.html.

In response to numerous queries about artistic events for visually impaired people, BlindArt has set up a forum at http://forum.blindart.net as a ‘one stop shop’ on what is happening in the arts for sensory impaired people.

Museums, galleries and other arts organisations can register to provide information on events, share news and network.

(Disability Cultural Projects via Voluntary Arts England)

An online survey for the Ministry of Justice on the impact of the Freedom of Information Act is being conducted by University College London. Views from anyone who has requested information from a central government department are welcome.

MoJ announcement with link, http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/announcement080508a.htm.